Area Roundup: Dwight wins thrice and M-R blanks West Central in weekend baseball

By Erich Murphy

Bingo Magic Sports

Dwight posted three wins, United scored a won and tie and Monmouth-Roseville claimed its first victory in decisive fashion over West Central in area baseball from the weekend. Lexington had a tough southern trip but came home triumphantly.

Dwight Baseball

At Dwight, the Trojans held off a late rally to complete its Tri-County Conference sweep of Woodland with a 4-3 win at home on March 26. DTHS led 4-0 before the Warriors plated three runs in the top of the sixth. Dwight won despite just two hits — singles from Evan Cox and Jacob Wilkey. Woodland committed seven errors. Cox got the win on the bump with an eight-strikeout effort in going the distance.

Brayden Matsko and Brezdyn Simons each had two hits while Noah Lopez and Tanner Norman had one hit apiece for Woodland. Hopkins drove in two runs. Matsko took the loss despite four strikeouts. Reece Pelnarsh also pitched.

Dwight played at the Future Champions Jamboree in Jacksonville, coming away with a 7-1 victory. Wilkey had a homer and two runs batted in while Ayden Collom collected two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Jackson LauniusMaddox DeLong and Joey Starks each singled.

Starks fanned seven in picking up the win on the bump. Wilkey (3 strikeouts) and Launius (1 strikeout) also pitched.

Dwight’s scheduled game with Springfield (Lanphier) was cancelled.

On March 28, the Trojans took care of business at home for their fourth straight win by topping Somonauk 8-2. Launius had a double and two singles while Wilkey doubled twice for DTHS (4-2). DeLong had two hits and Starks, Cox, Asher Kargle and Ethan Pakula each singled.

Wilkey fanned eight in picking up the win. Carson Sandeno (1 strikeout) and Launius also pitched.

United 9, Farmington 9

At Monmouth, United managed just three base hits but managed to break even in its contest with Farmington at home on March 26. Chance Stewart had a double while Egan Marshall and Houston Jackson each singled.

Aiden Martin struck out six and Jackson fanned four in splitting pitching duties.

United 10, West Hancock 0

At Monmouth, Stewart provided the offensive punch as United improved to 3-0-2 after shutting out West Hancock on March 28. Stewart had three doubles and drove in five runs for the Red Storm. Collin Leary and Kellen Boone each had a double and single while Ian Leffler had a two-base hit. Jackson and Martin each singled.

Leffler struck out 12 as he tossed a one-hit shutout.

Monmouth-Roseville 18, West Central 0

At Biggsville, Keegan Smith was perfect on the mound and received run-support from a potent offense as Monmouth-Roseville overwhelmed West Central 18-0 on March 26 for its first win of the season.

Smith struck out 10 of the 12 batters he faced in the four-inning game. He helped himself at the plate with two hits and a run batted in as M-R improved to 1-2.

Elijah Noel and Clay Casteel each had a pair of hits and two runs batted in to help pace the Titans’ offense. Landyn Angelo had a double, single and RBI and Tyler Carlson had two hits and an RBI. Andrew Way doubled and had two RBIs and Elliott Rogers had a hit and two RBIs. Cee Sarcoma had a double while Nick Huston and Liam Parker each singled.

West Central used five pitchers in the contest. Cooper Gibb fanned three and Kamryn Gridley registered two strikeouts.

West Prairie 12, West Central 5

At Biggsville, West Prairie had too much offense as the Cyclones blew past host West Central 12-5 on March 27.

Aiden Todd led West Central (2-3) with a double, single and run batted in. Cooper Gibb added a hit and RBI while Colton Spence and Dalton Hetrick each singled.

Spence struck out nine in taking the loss. Hetrick fanned three in relief.

Herscher 16, EPG 6

At Herscher, the host Tigers had a pair of big innings in claiming a 16-5 victory over El Paso-Gridley in nonconference play on March 28.

Blaine Mool led the Titans with a triple, single and two runs batted in. Caden Castleman also drove in two runs. Zac Feese chalked up a triple while Aiden Moore and Landon Garrels each doubled. Ben Buis, Aiden Moore, Blake Harris, Owen Adams and Elliott Toth each singled.

Harris got the start and took the loss. He fanned three. Adams struck out two and Castleman struck out one. EPG (0-3) used five pitchers.

Lexington Baseball

Lexington had a rough spring break trip to Emerson, Ga., as the Minutemen went 0-3. The set opened on March 25 with a 14-4 loss to Deshler. It was followed with an 18-0 setback to Van Buren on March 26.

Brody Elmore had the lone safety for Lexington against Van Buren. Cole Clark started and took the loss. He fanned one. Bo Stutzman struck out three in relief.

Lexington rallied to tie Mars Hill in its second game on March 26, but the Panthers walked it off with a two-run homer for a 4-2 win.

Braeden Barber had two hits while Blaine Friedmansky, Kayden Knight and Cooper Miller each singled.

Drake Powell took the loss in relief. He struck out one. Barber started and fanned eight.

On March 27, the Minutemen returned home and routed Delavan 13-0. An eight-run second inning augmented a three-run first.

Friedmansky collected three hits, including a triple and double, and three RBIs to pace the Minutemen (4-3). Knight had a hit and drove in two runs while Lukas Martin singled. Barber had three RBIs.

Jack Miller set down six on strikes in picking up the win.

Tri-Valley 4, Prairie Central 3

At Downs, host Tri-Valley scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to eke out a 4-3 victory over Prairie Central on March 28.

The Hawks (2-2) had taken a 3-2 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth frame. Chase Simpkins and Collin Hartman had two hits apiece and Tony Schahrer had a two-base knock. Lucas Steidinger, Will Skala and Mason McCulloh each singled.

Nathan Aberle took the loss in relief. He struck out two. Schahrer got the start and fanned five.

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